Attorney Challenges Oklahoma Appropriations Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma Supreme Court referee is scheduled to hear legal arguments over whether a charter school bill that was amended in the final days of the 2012 Legislature to include a $30 million appropriation for textbooks is unconstitutional.

Attorney Jerry Fent sued Gov. Mary Fallin and other state officials in October claiming that Senate Bill 1816 contains two subject matters in violation of the state Constitution. Oral presentations on the case are set Tuesday.

Fent claims the bill violates a provision of the constitution that prohibits bills with multiple subject matters and another that requires appropriations to be by separate bills with a single subject.

A spokesman for Fallin says she is confident the Legislature acted appropriately.

Fent has challenged a variety of legislation in the past, including revenue-raising measures.